Newsy catch up

Well that was quite a month!

I completed the Opus Daily Practice during the month of February and posted them all on instagram. I learned a bit more about the power of instagram and gained many new followers. Thank you for your clicks.

I also completed the 11th bi-annual Leslie Saeta 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. Some nights I was painting right up to midnight, but managd to do all 30.

Week 1 Opus Daily Practice and Leslie Saeta 30 paintings in 30 days

I entered two paintings in into the Intergenerational Exhibition “Who Are We” and they were accepted. Now on exhibit at Lake Country Art Gallery for the month of March. This is one of LCAGs most eclectic exhibitions, spanning and encouraging collaborations between many different age groups. My paintings are UNISUN with first nation collaboration and MEADOW LAKE, a Bob Ross collaboration from the February series.

On a more personal front my new condo with larger art studio is continuing to take shape. As with all renovations, there is a new challenge each day, but I’m making my way past all the obstacles. After several attempts to find just the right chandelier (too traditional, too modern, too small, too big) and yesterday, beautifully perfect! I now have the just right light over my all purpose dining, craft, sewing and private lesson table.

View from new condo

The old condo is emptying out as I move stuff over to the new one and its getting its final tweaks for selling in two weeks. Sleep has been hard to achieve this month, but I hope to play a bit of catch up this weekend.

Thank you for all the wonderful comments on my work last month and for your loyal followship.

Sea

WHITE MOUNTAIN IV

WHITE MOUNTAIN IV
8” x 8” Deep Canvas
Impasto Acrylic


Our local ski mountain is called Big White. It is just that, big, and in the winter, white. There is snow up there from about now, well into June. Google tells me it is 2,319 meters (7,606 feet) high. 

When I first moved to the area there was a small family run ski village on Big White and everyone knew each other by first name. Now it’s an internationally run conglomerate with hundreds of chalets, condos and world class runs. Most of the out of town visitors to the mountain travel through our airport and so my mountain paintings are popular at our Skyway kiosk. This one is for this winter.
‎
Sea

Orchard View

ORCHARD VIEW
8" x 8" Deep Wrap Canvas
$89

I've been a bit overwhelmed lately, but today I found a bit of time to practise for Art Battle which is being held on June 16th. I don't know if I will end up painting this view, but I wanted to practise working with paint of a similar consistency to that provided during the competition. I will have to pick up speed though because this took me a lot longer than the allowed 20 mins and it's a lot smaller.

Our skies have been quite cloudy and grey lately because the weather has been unusually wet. Luckily it's been a bumper season for cherry blossom and the apples are now in bloom. This painting was inspired by images I took on a quick Sunday drive up Black Knight mountain where many orchards have survived the trend of converting to vines.

The sky is neutral violet grey, the blossom titanium white, the grass lemon yellow and ivory black and the blue cobalt.

SUNSET OVER THE LAKE and LAKE MONSTERS DON'T EXIST

SOLD

SOLD

The first cycle at Skyway has concluded and now it's time for analysis. It's no surprise that the ones that sold are the warm toned landscapes. This is such a challenge for me because I know the statistics, but can't help throwing in a few curve balls. 

Yes - Small sells
Yes - Deep gallery wrap canvas sells
Yes - Landscapes sell
Yes - Warm toned paintings sell

I hear that cute sells, however, they didn't like my Ogopogo, so he is now hanging in my studio washroom and fits perfectly with the soft grey, beige and sage decor. I know animals sell (didn't do any for this submission or the last, but must rectify that).

No - Winter scenes are slow to sell, however, I did sell a very snowy mountain scene and a snowy river in thaw. I put that down to the major ski hills around us with ski travelers passing through the departure lounge. 

Notes for next submission - Animals - Warm Tones - Landscapes

LAKE COUNTRY COFFEE HOUSE SOLO EXHIBITION - JASPERWARE

After the excitement of the blog hop it's hard to come back to earth. However, my first solo exhibition of the year is also underway, so I will share some paintings in the show. This wall shows three of my experimental works that feature a raised leafy pattern.

COOL JASPERWARE by Sea Dean

TAPESTRY by Sea Dean

WARM JASPERWARE by Sea Dean

In these images you can see the delicate raised work that looks like fine porcelain, hence the name Jasperware from it's similarity to Wedgewood. I'm happy to create bespoke paintings in this series in any size and to suit your color scheme.

Each painting is 8" x 8" on 3/4" wrap canvas and costs $80 plus shipping
To purchase any or all of these three paintings please contact me and I'll check availability.

To view and purchase my prints, postcards and Art cards click here
To view or purchase my paintings click here or here

TWO TREES after Van Gogh

TWO TREES after Van Gogh
By Sea Dean
8" x 8" Deep Gallery Wrap Canvas

This is a larger version of a 4" square Mini Master. The countryside in this painting is similar to our local area, and I wanted to paint it again because I enjoyed the process on the smaller painting. There is lots of thick impasto paint in this one and it's painted on a high quality exhibition canvas.

DO WARM PAINTINGS SELL FASTER THAN COOL PAINTINGS?

EXUBRIUM by Sea Dean

I heard an experienced artist utter these words the other day and as usual it got me pondering. I think all artists like Picasso go through their "Blue Period" and I have times when I wallow in the ultramarine hues, but I have to admit that people do tend to buy "happy" paintings more than "moody" ones. The warm palette includes all colours, but slanted towards the warm tones.

Yellow ...
Cool - Cadmium Yellow Light or Lemon
Warm - Indian Yellow

Red ...
Cool - Crimson -
Warm - Cadmium Red Light

Blue ...
Cool - Ultramarine or Cobalt
Warm - Cerulean or Turquoise

VIOLET FRONDS by Sea Dean

I could go on but you get the gist. I think it's always a good idea to make tables with the brands of paint you use and separate them into warm and cool colours because this also has a great influence on your colour mixing. I use two stay-wet palettes, one with warm and one with cool colours so I don't mix them inadvertently.

I favour complimentary colours to make certain areas pop, so none of my paintings are completely warm or cool, but they are usually predominantly one or the other. Whether it is a landscape or an abstract the interplay between warm and cool can add a dynamic slant to your work.

Above you will see that EXUBRIUM is predominantly warm Cadmium Red Light and Turquoise, but I have used cool Purple and Lemon to add pizzazz. This painting is very red, which would be overpowering if it was a large painting, however framed and placed in a dark corner it works well.

In VIOLET FRONDS the predominant colour is Turquoise which is a warm blue, but the addition of cool Purple, Titanium and Zinc White have kept it icy looking and true to the frosty inspiration photo. Although hard to see, there are accents of warmer white and iridescence which prevent this painting appearing overly blue when viewed in room light.

What is your experience with warm and cool paintings. I would love to hear your views in comments.

ACROSS THE LAKE

ACROSS THE LAKE II
8" X 8" Deep Wrap Canvas



Moonlight on the lake. Lovely shades of teal and prussian blue with moonbeams hitting the silent lake. Perhaps not a common sight to most visitors that have been out boating all day and are probably tucked up in their hotel rooms at this time. This is when peace comes to the valley and the locals go out to enjoy the cool night.

This was painted during the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge, but I didn't get a chance to post it.

LAKE MONSTERS DON'T EXIST - FINDING OGOPOGO

LAKE MONSTERS DON'T EXIST
FINDING OGOPOGO
8" X 8" Deep Wrap Canvas



The double title is because I just can't decide. The first is more generic and the second is the local lake monster. The painting was created for a juried submission to the local international airport gift shop and is probably more likely to be accepted with a local name. What is your opinion? Please leave a comment.

There is a secret Ogopogo on the side.

This is the final painting in 30 paintings in 30 days, painted last month but not posted at the time.

TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE MOON - FORTH IN THE TETRAD - Harvest Moon

HARVEST MOON
8" x 8" Wrap Canvas
Available here






"Harvest Moon" is a thick impasto painting in honour of today's moon which will be eclipsed just after sunset in North America, to make the 4th Tetrad of 2015. It was quite a challenge getting the moon face to just peak over the horizon like elmo over a fence. :)

Day 27 of 30 paintings in 30 days
Posted on Leslie Saetas blog as # 

A Rare Eclipse of a Supermoon

The full Moon of September 27/28 is a Supermoon – the Moon will be closest to the Earth. or at its perigee, as it turns into a full Moon. A rising Super Full Moon can look larger and brighter to spectators on Earth.

Total eclipses of Super Full Moons are rare. According to NASA, they have only occurred 5 times in the 1900s – in 1910, 1928, 1946, 1964 and 1982. After the September 27/ 28, 2015 Total Lunar Eclipse, a Supermoon eclipse will not happen again for another 18 years, until October 8, 2033.

See more here

GRAPE III

GRAPE III
Sea Dean
8" x 8" Wrap Canvas
$80

View my online Gallery of large works and Limited Editions at ARTFINDER
View my online Gallery of small works at DAILY PAINTWORKS
Shop for Limited Edition ACEO and printed products here
Art Cards $5 and Art Postcards $3 here

Alongside over 700 artists I'm taking part in the Leslie Saeta 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. DAY 18
For a theme I've chosen abstract expressionist/impressionist explorations but I'm making a departure today because I needed to paint some still life paintings for display in a local gift shop.

"Grape III" is finished with Cold Wax, Brushstrokes and Gamvar, museum quality varnish, which really makes the grapes appear 3D.


Day 18 - 30 paintings in 30 days - Posted on Leslie Saetas Blog as #3

GRAPE II

GRAPE II
Sea Dean
8" x 8" Wrap Canvas
$80

View my online Gallery of large works and Limited Editions at ARTFINDER
View my online Gallery of small works at DAILY PAINTWORKS
Shop for Limited Edition ACEO and printed products here
Art Cards $5 and Art Postcards $3 here

Alongside over 700 artists I'm taking part in the Leslie Saeta 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. DAY 17
For a theme I've chosen abstract expressionist/impressionist explorations but I'm making a departure today because I needed to paint some still life paintings for display in a local gift shop.

"Grape II" is finished with Cold Wax, Brushstrokes and Gamvar, museum quality varnish which really makes the grapes look 3D. When it gets close to picking time the grape leaves tend to curl and go brown. This is what I was aiming for in this painting.


Day 17 - 30 paintings in 30 days - Posted on Leslie Saetas blog as # 3

GRAPE I

GRAPE I
Sea Dean
8" x 8" Wrap Canvas
$80

View my online Gallery of large works and Limited Editions at ARTFINDER
View my online Gallery of small works at DAILY PAINTWORKS
Shop for Limited Edition ACEO and printed products here
Art Cards $5 and Art Postcards $3 here



Alongside over 700 artists I'm taking part in the Leslie Saeta 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. DAY 14
For a theme I've chosen abstract expressionist/impressionist explorations but I'm making a departure today because I needed to paint some still life paintings for display in a local gift shop.

"Grape I" is finished with Gamvar, museum quality varnish which really makes the grapes look 3D.


Day 16 - 30 paintings in 30 days - Posted on Leslie Saetas blog as #15

VICTORIAN ROSE - $80

VICTORIAN ROSE
By Sea Dean
8" x 8" Wrap Canvas

$80

View my online Gallery of originals here DAILY PAINTWORKS
Shop for Limited Edition ACEO here
Art Cards $5 and Art Postcards $3 here

A delicate painting of a rose in spring. Silver under-painting gives this work and unusual soft glow in room light. This is one not to be missed.


Ref 2088

PURPLE JASPERWARE I - 30 Paintings in 30 Days ART PARTY - Day 25

PURPLE JASPERWARE I
By Sea Dean
8" x 8" Wrap Canvas

To view my online Gallery of originals please visit Daily Paintworks
Shop for Limited Edition ACEO here
More from my fellow intrepid and brave artists attempting the 30 paintings in 30 days here

I completed this painting yesterday and left it to dry overnight. When I checked this morning, the liquid acrylic had dried a lot darker and the painting looked like it had contracted measles. I find I'm not a very good judge of what connects with buyers so I could call this painting complete and I did sign it.

However, it is not for sale because it underwent a complete facelift this afternoon. I will unveil the final version tomorrow.

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS - Day 25

WELCOME

POSTING
As a special gift to fellow artists I am allowing you to post on my blog during the 30 in 30 Challenge. I'm using the same type of system as Leslie Saeta, so if you're participating it will be easy. Please post  with YOUR NAME ONLY (not the painting's name or your business name) and a link to your web presence. 

VOTING
Posting ends at midnight each day and voting begins. Voting is open on all the previous days blogs from January 1st until January 31st. Three votes for each person every day. Voting opens when posting closes and continues till 31st January 2015. At close of voting the three most popular paintings rise to the top and remain there forever.

SHARING
All I ask in return is to spread the word to other artists and offer your buddies a chance to win prizes. If you blog, link to your entry on it. Share to Twitter, FB, Pinterest etc. with an easy hover and click on the thumbnail. To visit the artist and tell them how much you love their work click on their thumbnail.

PRIZES
Prizes given to the most active artists and voters that participate throughout the month. Posts, Votes, Comments, Shares etc. There are many prizes. A newcomer can still be a winner. To make it fair for late comers, a prize will be awarded for the highest vote count on one painting during the whole party. So invite all your supporters to visit and click on all the VOTE links below.

It's going to take me a while to tally so I'm announcing the winners about a week after votes close on January 31st. Click here to see some of the prizes available ... more will be added. Top winners pick first and so on till all the prizes have been awarded.

http://blueskyredearth.wix.com/seadeanart-party
On Review there is no clear winner yet. Many days show a draw between two or three artists.  A few votes will really count, so make sure you vote each day using the links below. Vote for your favourite artist and then use your other two votes to select from all the other hard working artists.

Current leaders are, Beverly Shipko - Chey Anne Sexton - Cindy Gillett - Connie Cagley - Corinna Woodard - Donna Munsch - Ginnie Conaway - Marion Hedger - Nancy Romanovsky - Pam Schoessow - Sea Dean - Sheila Delgado - Susan Herbst - Val van der Poel and Wendy Mould.

Good Luck everyone.
Thank you for visiting my blog 

An InLinkz Link-up

P.S.  For your best chance to win, post your painting on the current day and vote on all the previous blogs from January 1st. You have 3 votes each day and voting is open on each day till January 31st. To vote click on the grey heart on the painting you like. It will turn red and tell you how many votes you have left.

If you're lost click on each of these links.

January 1st - VOTE
January 2nd - VOTE
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Posted on Leslie Saeta as # 6

COOL JASPERWARE I - 30 Paintings in 30 Days ART PARTY - Day 21

COOL JASPERWARE I
By Sea Dean
8" x 8" Wrap Canvas

To view my online Gallery of originals please visit Daily Paintworks
Shop for Limited Edition ACEO here
More from my fellow intrepid and brave artists attempting the 30 paintings in 30 days here

In the same series as "WARM JASPERWARE I" from a couple of days ago. Same method with cool palette. As I venture into this series I have more and yet more ideas. I wonder if this is the beginning of a solo exhibition???

I had three solos last year which were a huge amount of work, but it was so good to see a large group of my paintings in one place. In September last year I had over 200 paintings scattered around my area in various galleries, shows and solos. Phew!


30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS - Day 21

WELCOME

POSTING
As a special gift to fellow artists I am allowing you to post on my blog during the 30 in 30 Challenge. I'm using the same type of system as Leslie Saeta, so if you're participating it will be easy. Please post  with YOUR NAME ONLY (not the painting's name or your business name) and a link to your web presence. 

VOTING
Posting ends at midnight each day and voting begins. Voting is open on all the previous days blogs from January 1st until January 31st. Three votes for each person every day. Voting opens when posting closes and continues till 31st January 2015. At close of voting the three most popular paintings rise to the top and remain there forever.

SHARING
All I ask in return is to spread the word to other artists and offer your buddies a chance to win prizes. If you blog, link to your entry on it. Share to Twitter, FB, Pinterest etc. with an easy hover and click on the thumbnail. To visit the artist and tell them how much you love their work click on their thumbnail.

Prizes given to the most active artists and voters that participate throughout the month. Posts, Votes, Comments, Shares etc.
Good Luck everyone.
Thank you for visiting my blog

An InLinkz Link-up

P.S.  Post your painting on the current day and vote on all the previous blogs from January 1st for the best chance to win. You have 3 votes each day and voting is open on all pages till January 31st. To vote click on the grey heart on the painting you like.
If you're lost click on each of these links.

January 1st - VOTE
January 2nd - VOTE
January 3rd - VOTE
January 4th - VOTE
January 5th - VOTE
January 6th - VOTE
January 7th - VOTE
January 8th - VOTE
January 9th - VOTE
January 10th - VOTE
January 11th - VOTE
January 12th - VOTE 
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Posted on Leslie Saeta as # 3

WARM JASPERWARE I - 30 Paintings in 30 Days ART PARTY - Day 19

WARM JASPERWARE I
By Sea Dean
8" x 8" Wrap Canvas

To view my online Gallery of originals please visit Daily Paintworks
Shop for Limited Edition ACEO here
More from my fellow intrepid and brave artists attempting the 30 paintings in 30 days here

This is a study for a new series I'm working on. I'm pleased to say it came out very well. The season has started early this year with some important submissions on the horizon that I need large work for and I have to get down to it.

I love abstracts and I would love to create more. I don't find them easy and when I paint them fast I'm not satisfied. I've been quietly working on a natural abstract series for several months now and it seems that each element takes a great deal of consideration and even demands drying time. Perhaps with more practice I'll pick up speed. I even had three periods of drying time with this small study.

I used a fair amount of cadmium in this painting and it doesn't photograph well so there are many subtleties not visible in this image. The palette goes through Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Orange, Red and Yellow to both translucent and opaque white. There is a deal of delicate layering and line work and even so hints of copper.

The title comes from the beautiful Wedgewood Jasperware popular in the last century which inspired this piece. I also have a history of decorating wedding cakes with hard icing that I'm sure had something to do with it.

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS - Day 19

WELCOME

POSTING
As a special gift to fellow artists I am allowing you to post on my blog during the 30 in 30 Challenge. I'm using the same type of system as Leslie Saeta, so if you're participating it will be easy. Please post  with YOUR NAME ONLY (not the painting's name or your business name) and a link to your web presence. 

VOTING
Posting ends at midnight each day and voting begins. Voting is open on all the previous days blogs from January 1st until January 31st. Three votes for each person every day. Voting opens when posting closes and continues till 31st January 2015. At close of voting the three most popular paintings rise to the top and remain there forever.

SHARING
All I ask in return is to spread the word and offer your buddies a chance to win prizes. If you blog, link to your entry on it. Share to Twitter, FB, Pinterest etc. with an easy hover on the thumbnail and click. To visit the artist and tell them how much you love their work click on their thumbnail.

Prizes given to the most active artists and voters that participate throughout the month. Posts, Votes, Comments, Shares etc.
Good Luck everyone.
Thank you for visiting my blog

An InLinkz Link-up

P.S.  Post your painting on the current day and vote on all the previous blogs from January 1st for the best chance to win. You have 3 votes each day and voting is open on all pages till January 31st. To vote click on the grey heart on the painting you like.

If you're lost click on each of these links.

January 1st - VOTE
January 2nd - VOTE
January 3rd - VOTE
January 4th - VOTE
January 5th - VOTE
January 6th - VOTE
January 7th - VOTE
January 8th - VOTE
January 9th - VOTE
January 10th - VOTE
January 11th - VOTE
January 12th - VOTE 
January 13th - VOTE
January 14th - VOTE
January 15th - VOTE
January 16th - VOTE  
January 17th - VOTE
January 18th - VOTE  


Posted on Leslie Saeta as # 3

CATCHING THE SUN - A TWEAK OR TWO

After Tweaking

Before Tweaking

CATCHING THE SUN
Original Painting by Sea Dean
8” x 8” Canvas Panel
Professional Acrylic with UV Protection

Purchase via Daily Paintworks

I'm still in awe of Edouard Manet and experimenting with his methods. When this challenge came up on Daily Paintworks I had to take it on because of the dramatic value shifts.

In the first version, which took me a couple of days, I think I got the tonal balance right according to the original inspiration image, but I never liked the stark back-lighting on just one petal of this rose. On closer examination of the challenge photograph and other entries on Daily Paintworks, I noticed that a couple more of the outer petals were slightly lighter than I had depicted. Values are so crucial in a painting, and so I finally got around to adding more sunlight to outer petals on the dark side.

I like this painting better now and I think I will send it to one of my galleries in the new year. However, if you want to catch it before it leaves you could click the Daily Paintworks link and buy it now.

You will notice that I have switched the time that my blog goes out to coincide with activity on Google +. Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days is coming up again in January and I'm going to attempt to get ahead over the holidays so I'm not painting madly still at 11 pm to make the midnight post. Wish me luck!


Cat # 14101 Catching the Sun

SILENT AUCTION HEATING UP - WHITE ROSE I - LOT 10

LOT 10 - WHITE ROSE I
By SEA DEAN
8" x 8" Gallery Wrap Canvas

Bid on my exclusive limited time SILENT AUCTION here 
Shop for Limited Edition ACEO here
View my online Gallery of originals please visit DAILY PAINTWORKS

An auction collection of recent works by Sea Dean and others.

I created a wonderful painting today, but I left my camera in the car and couldn't post it in time. I will either add it to this blog later or post it tomorrow.

How do I bid?

It's really very simple...

1. Visit the website, or come to one of my upcoming shows to view the lots.
2. Enjoy the work on offer (you can hover to see details or click to see a larger image with more details). Some is from my own hand and some is from my peer collection.
3. Choose which pieces you would like to bid on and click the link in details. 
4. The link creates an email so you can send me your bidding details.
5. As bids come in I update the website and my paper record to correspond.
6. On November 15th at midnight PST bidding ends. 
7. Winning bidders will receive an invoice from Paypal with the name of the work, your bid and shipping. Tax is included. Multiple items to the same bidder will be shipped together.
8. On payment your item(s) will be shipped within 3 days in plenty of time for holiday giving.


Cat #14066  White Rose I

Practice, practice, practice - CATCHING THE SUN

CATCHING THE SUN
PROFESSIONAL ACRYLIC ORIGINAL 
PAINTING BY SEA DEAN
8" x 8" on Gallery Wrap Canvas

To view my Gallery or purchase this painting please visit Daily Paintworks. Larger originals or prints may be available by contacting me.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

Legendary cellist Pablo Casals was once asked why he continued to practice every day even though he was over 90. He said "Because I think I'm making progress".

I was reminded of this recently by a friend on Facebook and found it appropriate because I've been reviewing my 2012/2013/2014 paintings for an upcoming juried exhibition. I decided to select my favourite paintings from each year and place them in a file to simplify the process. I identified several ongoing themes in my work, to which I returned to throughout the year. One theme is a mountain landscape, another is a path through trees and the third is closeup roses.

Naturally when I saw the weekly Daily Paintworks challenge was painting roses, I felt the gauntlet had been thrown down. Pink is a difficult colour to work with in acrylic without it looking cold and pasty, so I chose to enrich the colours of the roses. Also I prefer bold contrast which is easier with deeper reds. Even though I used fluorescent pink and cadmium red in places, the painting seems to have photographed quite well except for the shine in the right top corner. I'll correct it in daylight. I also want to lighten the value of the right hand bottom rose a touch.


Cat 14090 Catching the Sun